Opposition stormed Kerala Assembly over gangrape issue

Kerala government today came under scathing attack from UDF opposition in the Assembly over an alleged gangrape complaint by a woman against a CPI(M) functionary and three others two years ago, even as the ruling LDF assured a fair probe and stern action against the accused.
Raising the harrowing experience of the woman, a mother of two, in the House, Congress-led Opposition members alleged that the government and police were trying to "protect" the accused, including CPI(M) Wadakancherry Municipal Council member Jayanthan, due to their affiliation with the ruling party.
They said the accused and police officials, who allegedly ill-treated the woman when she had lodged a complaint, were getting "political protection" and demanded that a woman ADGP should probe the case to ensure justice to the victim.

Rejecting the charges, Law Minister A K Balan, who spoke on behalf of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijyan, said the government would not protect culprits in criminal cases even if they belong to the ruling party.
He also said Guruvayur Assistant Commissioner of police had already been entrusted to probe the matter on the basis of the woman's complaint.
"The accused will not escape law because of their party affiliations... Whoever be the accused, even if they belong to our own party, we will make them pay the price for their act," Balan said.

"They will not find any place in party," the minister said while replying to a notice seeking an adjournment motion by Anil Akkara (Congress) over a number of recent "atrocities" against women reported in the state including the gangrape complaint by the woman, a native of Wadakancherry in Thrissur district.

Irked over Balan's statement that the Opposition could submit to the investigating officer all the information with them in connection with the gangrape case, Opposition members stood up from their seats demanding withdrawal of the remarks as it amounted to "disrespect" to the entire House.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said the Peramangalam
Circle Inspector M V Manikandan, who allegedly verbally abused the rape victim when she lodged the complaint, should be suspended from the service for dereliction of duty.
The Opposition later staged a walkout after Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan rejected the demand for discussion over the issue.
Meanwhile, DGP Loknath Behera told reporters that a probe was already on over the complaint of the 33-year-old woman.

On the allegations by the victim against police officials, he said another probe had also been ordered.
The couple, who addressed the media here yesterday with their faces covered, said the accused continued to "taunt" the woman about the horrifying incident, which happened in 2014, threatening that the video footage of the ghastly act would be made public.
They also sought the state government's help through media for justice.
The incident came to light after the couple approached actor and activist Bhagyalakshmi, who narrated the incident in one of her Facebook posts which became viral.
Inspector General of Police (Thrissur Range), M R Ajith Kumar said police was not vigilant enough when the case came up earlier. The case would be investigated as a fresh one, he said.